Sophomores Prep for Blue Grass

Bear Stables’ Asserting Bear (Bear’s Kid) worked a half-mile in company in :48 at Keeneland yesterday morning with jockey Emme-Jayne Wilson in the irons. 
    “I was very happy with that,” Wilson said. “I think he enjoys the change of scenery up here.” 
    Wilson will be aboard the bay Saturday in the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. over the Lexington oval. 
    “I worked him a few times in Florida at Palm Beach Downs for [trainer] Mr. [Reade] Baker,” Wilson said. “That was on dirt. He loved it out there today [on the Polytrack] and traveled well over it.” 
    Martine Pare, assistant to Baker, was also happy with the work. 
    “I liked it very much,” Pare said. “He galloped a mile before he worked, which is something Mr. Baker normally does.” 
    Asserting Bear shipped to Keeneland Mar. 24 after finishing fourth in Turfway Park’s GIII Spiral S. Mar. 22. Baker will arrive in Lexington Saturday to saddle his charge for the Blue Grass. 
    Conditioner Justin Nixon, who has never previously saddled a horse at Keeneland, hopes to change that Saturday if Coltimus Prime (Milwaukee Brew) gets in the Blue Grass. 
    The event is limited to 14 starters, with preference given to graded stakes winners and then highest earnings. The Cabernet Stables runner is currently 16th on the earnings list. 
    “You can’t worry about that,” Nixon said. “If he does not get in the Blue Grass, he’ll go in the [GIII] Lexington [S. Apr. 19].” 
    Coltimus Prime breezed five panels in 1:01.20 over the Polytrack Monday morning with Fort Erie jockey Melanie Pinto aboard. 
    “I was happy with it and he seemed comfortable on it,” Nixon said. “I caught him galloping out in 1:14 and 2 and ‘Mel’ was happy with it. He had a good work at Palm Beach Downs last week [:58.40 Mar. 30] and didn’t have to do much today.” 
    Graduating at second asking Nov. 17 at Woodbine, the dark bay was second in that venue’s Display S. Dec. 8 and ninth in his sophomore debut in the GII Tampa Bay Derby last time Mar. 8. 
    “We decided to stay away from the dirt after Tampa,” Nixon remarked. “He never really looked comfortable on it during the race.” 
    Though the Blue Grass offers a total of 170 points toward the GI Kentucky Derby, Nixon said that is not what he is currently pointing towards. 
    “That could change if he gets 10 points in the Lexington and be 22nd on the points [list[ to get in the [20-horse] Derby,” Nixon said. “But the Queen’s Plate [July 6 at Woodbine] is the ultimate goal. I’d like to win this. Staying on the synthetics down the road has been the plan.” 
    Jockey Alan Garcia, who won the 2010 Blue Grass on Stately Victor (Ghostzapper), will ride Coltimus Prime Saturday if he makes it into the Blue Grass starting gate. 
    All American Horses’ Casiguapo (Sightseeing) also worked at Keeneland yesterday in preparation for the Blue Grass. The Mario Morales trainee fired a three-furlong bullet in :34.80. The GII Delta Downs Jackpot S. runner-up was last seen finishing fifth in a Gulfstream allowance Feb. 2.